Posting period for Japanese pitcher Tanaka starts

NEW YORK - The bidding for Japanese star pitcher Masahiro Tanaka has
begun.

All 30 major league teams have been notified that the 30-day period to sign the
star 25-year-old right-hander began at 8 a.m. EST Thursday, according to Major
League Baseball spokesman Michael Teevan. Clubs have until 5 p.m. on Jan. 24 to
attempt to reach an agreement with the ace.

If Tanaka and a major league team come to terms, that franchise is required to
pay his Japanese club, the Rakuten Eagles, a posting fee, now capped at $20
million under the new deal between MLB and Nippon Professional Baseball.

Tanaka went 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA with the Eagles during the regular season.